Adjustable Clamping Device and Leveling Base with Multidirectional Adjustment

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a ball head based leveling base for use with an adjustable clamping device that works in conjunction with commonly available accessory rails for photographic equipment and/or firearms.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A leveling base, comprising:
 a housing including a cavity;   a rotatable component positioned at least partially within the cavity of the housing, wherein the rotatable component is rotatably maintained within the cavity to thereby enable a rotation of the rotatable component with respect to the housing;   an elongated member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the elongated member is coupled to a bottom surface of the rotatable component; and   a rotatable arm having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the rotatable arm is configured to rotate from a first position in which a longitudinal axis of the rotatable arm is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member to a second position in which the longitudinal axis of the rotatable arm is positioned at a non-zero angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member, wherein rotation of the rotatable component with respect to the housing is prevented when the rotatable arm is in the first position, and wherein rotation of the rotatable component with respect to the housing is enabled when the rotatable arm is in the second position.   
     
     
         3 . The leveling base of  claim 2 , wherein a length of the elongated member is longer than a length of the rotatable arm. 
     
     
         4 . The leveling base of  claim 2 , wherein a length of the rotatable arm is longer than a length of the elongated member. 
     
     
         5 . The leveling base of  claim 2 , wherein a length of the elongated member is substantially equal to a length of the rotatable arm. 
     
     
         6 . The leveling base of  claim 2 , wherein the second end of the rotatable arm includes a gripping portion. 
     
     
         7 . The leveling base of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the rotatable component comprises a spherical shape. 
     
     
         8 . The leveling base of  claim 2 , wherein the first end of the rotatable arm includes a first cam surface and a second cam surface, and wherein the elongated member includes a first cutout and a second cutout configured to receive the first cam surface and the second cam surface when the rotatable arm is in the first position. 
     
     
         9 . The leveling base of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a mounting structure positioned on a top surface of the rotatable component, wherein the mounting structure comprises:
 a first wall; 
 a second wall moveable with respect to the first wall; 
 a channel positioned between the first wall and the second wall; 
 an elongated rod having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and 
 a lever coupled to the second end of the elongated rod, wherein the lever includes a cam portion that rotates about a pivot axis to contact the second wall as the lever is moved between an unlocked position and a locked position, and wherein a distance between the first wall and the second wall is greater in the unlocked position than in the locked position. 
   
     
     
         10 . The leveling base of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated member is hollow. 
     
     
         11 . The leveling base of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an inner rod having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the inner rod is positioned within the elongated member.   
     
     
         12 . The leveling base of  claim 11 , wherein the first end of the rotatable arm is pivotally coupled to the second end of the inner rod. 
     
     
         13 . The leveling base of  claim 11 , wherein the first end of the inner rod contacts the rotatable component to thereby prevent rotation of the rotatable component with respect to the housing when the rotatable arm is in the first position, and wherein the first end of the inner rod does not contact the rotatable component to thereby enable rotation of the rotatable component with respect to the housing when the rotatable arm is in the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The leveling base of  claim 11 , wherein a distance between the first end of the inner rod and the rotatable component is greater when the rotatable arm is in the second position than when the rotatable arm is in the first position. 
     
     
         15 . The leveling base of  claim 11 , wherein the first end of the rotatable arm is pivotally coupled to the second end of the inner rod via a pin. 
     
     
         16 . The leveling base of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a resilient member positioned at least partially within the elongated member, wherein the resilient member biases the first end of the inner rod away from the rotatable component.   
     
     
         17 . The leveling base of  claim 11 , wherein a distance between the first end of the inner rod and the rotatable component when the rotatable arm is in the second position is adjustable. 
     
     
         18 . The leveling base of  claim 17 , wherein the second end of the rotatable arm includes a recess configured to removably house a tool configured to adjust the distance between the first end of the inner rod and the rotatable component when the rotatable arm is in the second position. 
     
     
         19 . The leveling base of  claim 18 , wherein the tool comprises an Allen wrench.